Probably, but compared to losing 32,000 people per year, I'd bet the rate of computer fault would substantially lower. Particularly when you consider the power

Probably, but compared to losing 32,000 people per year, I'd bet the rate of computer fault would substantially lower. Particularly when you consider the power of the systems we'll have in 30 years. That doesn't ensure quality (bugs, poor algorithms, etc), but it does make it plausible there will be numerous very effective fail-safes built in. The x factor in that calculation to me, is the potential for people to treat computer fault deaths particularly harsh. If human fault kills 32,000 - I'd just about wager people would be more willing to excuse it than, say, if computer fault killed 1,000 instead (That is, there's some equation of human fault to computer fault deaths that is necessary before people will find it acceptable, and unfortunately I bet people aren't going to be very forgiving of computer fault deaths even if the ratio is 10, 20, or even 30 to 1. Let's say you eliminated human fault driving deaths, and all that was left is 5,000 computer fault deaths - I think people would be outraged at that number, quickly forgetting the old 32k number).